The Yucca Valley Town Council met last night, swearing in council members, naming a mayor and mayor pro tem. Managing editor Tami Roleff was there, and files this report…
Robert Lombardo closed out his term as mayor of Yucca Valley by giving a State of the Town address, in which he highlighted the accomplishments of the last year: the two highway projects that installed medians, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks; Safe Routes to Schools; finally reconstructing Black Rock Canyon Road; the General Plan and Development Code updates; improvements at Paradise Park and Jacobs Park; the new animal shelter; the Dumosa Village affordable senior housing; Hawk’s Landing at Blue Skies golf course; and new businesses: Tractor Supply, PetCo, Marshalls, Del Taco, and Panda Express, which he said will add 300 jobs to Yucca Valley. He reminded residents of the Town’s financial status, in which the Town has a reserve equal to 80 percent of the annual budget.
Lombardo then discussed the challenges facing the town: the increased cost of public safety, without an accompanying increase in revenue; the sewer project and assessment vote; and the dire need for infrastructure improvements, with no revenue to pay for them. Next, David Behrens was recognized as employee of the quarter.
Rick Denison and Merl Abel were sworn in as council members, and George Huntington was named as mayor. And in a nod to seniority on the council over votes received during the election, Bob Leone was named as mayor pro tem. Assemblyman Chad Mayes was the first of many speakers to thank Dawn Rowe for her service to the town, first as a planning commissioner, and then on the council.
